Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology
Australia and India continue to strengthen our relationship by working together to help shape a global technology environment that meets our shared vision of an peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld.
Australia and India's bilateral cyber and critical technology cooperation is underpinned by the Australia-India Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technologies Cooperation (Framework Arrangement), agreed by Foreign Ministers under the 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP), established in 2020, supports Australia-India collaborations on cyber and critical technology issues, and deepens institutional, research, business, and government linkages. Initiatives include research grants, policy exchanges, information sharing and awareness raising activities.
The AICCTP grants program supports Australia-India collaborative research projects to advance our shared understanding of ethical frameworks, best practice, and technical standards for cyber and critical technology to boost the responsible development and use of emerging technologies between our countries and in our region.
The AICCTP is an important component of Australia's broader efforts to uplift cyber security and resilience through collaborating with international stakeholders.
About the AICCTP 2024 Partnership
The AICCTP's 2024 grant opportunity (Round 4) of A$1.6 million considered proposals for collaboration on cyber and critical technology, which will help shape a global technology environment that meets our shared vision of peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where the rules-based international order is upheld.
The following projects were successful under the AICCTP 2024 grant round:
| Grant Recipient Partners | Grant Project |
|---|---|
Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore | Securing the Internet’s Backbone: Developing an Australia-India Framework for Strengthening Submarine Cable Connectivity, Resilience and Supply Chains |
Australian National University Inklude Labs | Joint Impact Assessment of Critical Emerging Technologies in Support of Peace and Stability |
CSIRO Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI) | Foundational Principles for Responsible Development and Use of Quantum Technologies in the Indo-Pacific Region |
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) UQ Cyber, University of Queensland | A Paradigmatic Shift in Public Service Delivery: Accessible, Inclusive, and Secure DPI |
Monash University Dharmashastra National Law University Jabalpur | Developing an Ethical Framework for using Blockchain-based Digital Credential Systems: Tackling the issue of Fake Degrees |
National Institute of Strategic Resilience Quantum Hub | Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs) to advance innovation in the Indo Pacific |
About previous grant rounds
Examples of previous collaborative projects funded by the program include developing governance frameworks and best practices for emerging quantum technologies; operationalising ethical frameworks in the critical technology supply chains of global companies; and addressing privacy and security challenges in next generation telecommunications networks.
Previous recipients and projects
Grant Round 3
| Grant Recipient Partners | Grant Project |
|---|---|
University of Wollongong Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) | Standardisation and development of practical privacy enhancing cryptographic techniques for cloud computing |
The University of Sydney Observer Research Foundation (ORF) | Critical Quantum Technology: Creating Scientific Fluency, Ethical Awareness and Policy Options for a Quantum Future |
The University of Western Australia IT for Change | Effective Ethical Frameworks for the State as an Enabler of Innovation |
Swinburne University Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad (IIT Palakkad) Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) | Responsible Al for Net Zero – An Australian and India Collaborative Approach |
The Australian National University InKlude Labs | New ethical frameworks for synthetic biology in the Indo-Pacific |
National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, India University of Melbourne Ikigai Law | 101:BUILD: Building IncLusivity by Design in AI/ML Powered Healthtech: an Indo-Australian Partnership for International Policy Making |
Grant Round 2
| Grant Recipient Partners | Grant Project |
|---|---|
The Australian National University (ANU) – The Tech Policy Design Centre and College of Law National Law University Delhi | Shaping blockchain technical standards consistent with Australia and India's shared vision of an open, free, rules-based Indo-Pacific |
Victoria University Gujarat National Law University | Cross Border Data Flows Between Australia and India: Understanding the legal, policy and ethical standards for data, cyber security, AI, quantum and new technologies |
Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) The Centre for the Internet and Society India | A techdiplomacy and negotiation guide on technical standards for Artificial Intelligence in the Indo-Pacific |
Consumer Unity and Trust Society of India Australian Risk Policy Institute International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) | Ethical 6G - Identifying Elements of Ethical Framework for 6G and Creating Opportunities for India and Australia |
Grant Round 1
All Grant Round 1 projects are completed.
| Grant Recipient Partners | Grant Project |
|---|---|
The University of Sydney School of Computer Science University of New South Wales Orbit Australia Reliance Jio Indian Institute of Technology Madras Calligo Technologies | Next Generation Telecommunications Networks: Privacy and Security Challenges, Regulatory Interventions and Policy Framework Project |
The University of Sydney Centre for International Security Studies Observer Research Foundation (ORF) | Quantum Meta-ethics: A Project to Develop Normative Frameworks, Best Practices and Effective Accords for Emerging Quantum Technologies |
La Trobe University Indian Institute of Gandhingar Indian Institute of Kanpur | Operationalising Ethical Frameworks in the critical technologies industries operating in India and Australia |
The Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) Round 4 is now open for applications until Friday 24 May 2024 (5pm AEST/ 12:30pm India Standard Time).